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Product design with impact on growth

Beyond the garage

Because of its tasteful design the Bison Ambiance moisture absorber even looks great in your living room or bedroom. This innovative, powerful and stunningly designed de-humidifier hugely increased the market share and turnover for Bison.

An innovative solution

Bison’s blue and white moisture absorber has been around for over twenty years. This classic model, with its technical and functional exterior, usually finds its place in basements or garages. But moisture is not solely a problem in dark places that are hardly used. More lived-in places like living rooms or bed rooms also have their fair share of damp related problems.

Bison asked us to redesign the existing product, eliminate the current issues and make it more suitable for all living quarters.

Our solution applies a very effective new air flow principle. A safe non-leak system safely stores the moisture and a useful spout-shaped detail means that the moisture absorber Ambiance is easily emptied.

An innovative solution

Bison’s blue and white moisture absorber has been around for over twenty years. This classic model, with its technical and functional exterior, usually finds its place in basements or garages. But moisture is not solely a problem in dark places that are hardly used. More lived-in places like living rooms or bed rooms also have their fair share of damp related problems.

Bison asked us to redesign the existing product, eliminate the current issues and make it more suitable for all living quarters.

Our solution applies a very effective new air flow principle. A safe non-leak system safely stores the moisture and a useful spout-shaped detail means that the moisture absorber Ambiance is easily emptied.

“In the first year after the introduction of the moisture absorber Ambiance we not only managed to increase sales but also expanded and increased sales channels for selling moisture absorbers”

Marjolein Boer, Senior Product Manager Bison

“The Bison case shows design as the driving force behind total innovation; both technical & functional as well as in the experience.””

Jury Design Accountability Awards 2014

Technical challenges

De-humidifiers are largely shaped like they are, because of the need for a vast amount of holes and openings. We chose to regulate the airflow differently for this product. Through a unique and new venturi airflow system, the air is guided past the ‘absorber-tab’ sideways, which created the opportunity to keep the design elegant.

We developed an innovative solution not only for the airflow but also for the moisture collection itself. All existing moisture absorbers have an open top with a risk of spillage when the collected moisture is discarded.

We gave the Ambiance a closed top with a narrow spout for convenient pouring. The watertight closed compartment that prevents spilling during use is made by ultrasonic welding.

In order to manufacture the housing for less than 1 Euro, each component needed to be injection molded in simple tooling, without any side action that would increase investment cost. We minimized wall thicknesses to reduce material cost and cycle time. In combination with optimized vertical assembly, we were able to meet the cost requirements set by Bison.

Technical challenges

De-humidifiers are largely shaped like they are, because of the need for a vast amount of holes and openings. We chose to regulate the airflow differently for this product. Through a unique and new venturi airflow system, the air is guided past the ‘absorber-tab’ sideways, which created the opportunity to keep the design elegant.

We developed an innovative solution not only for the airflow but also for the moisture collection itself. All existing moisture absorbers have an open top with a risk of spillage when the collected moisture is discarded.

We gave the Ambiance a closed top with a narrow spout for convenient pouring. The watertight closed compartment that prevents spilling during use is made by ultrasonic welding.

In order to manufacture the housing for less than 1 Euro, each component needed to be injection molded in simple tooling, without any side action that would increase investment cost. We minimized wall thicknesses to reduce material cost and cycle time. In combination with optimized vertical assembly, we were able to meet the cost requirements set by Bison.

Impact of design

The moisture absorber Ambiance has a big impact: it’s clear that the new design finds its place all throughout the house. This lead to a 25% increase in sales including a slight cannibalization on the classic model at the introduction.

Due to a slightly higher price level than the classic product, the Ambiance contributes even more in revenue.

The success was not limited to the existing markets, but the elegant newcomer gave Bison the opportunity to expand to new markets, such as France, Spain, and South-America. The new design also brought on the opportunity to explore new sales channels, like food retailers in France, drugstores in Germany and on-line sales in the Netherlands.

The successful tally of these results helped Bison in becoming European market leader in solutions for damp related issues in the residential environment.

Impact of design

The moisture absorber Ambiance has a big impact: it’s clear that the new design finds its place all throughout the house. This lead to a 25% increase in sales including a slight cannibalization on the classic model at the introduction.

Due to a slightly higher price level than the classic product, the Ambiance contributes even more in revenue.

The success was not limited to the existing markets, but the elegant newcomer gave Bison the opportunity to expand to new markets, such as France, Spain, and South-America. The new design also brought on the opportunity to explore new sales channels, like food retailers in France, drugstores in Germany and on-line sales in the Netherlands.

The successful tally of these results helped Bison in becoming European market leader in solutions for damp related issues in the residential environment.